That map is striking. I don’t think most Americans have really come to terms with the cost of the war.
Part of the reason is that it is depressing. Every time I think about the amount of people we have killed in Iraq, the amount of money we have borrowed and spent, how difficult it will be to repay all that money, I get feelings of fury and hopelessness.
Even if began a withdrawal of all troops tomorrow, it would not un-kill those people or un-spend that money.
Indeed, that the war has been a humongous waste of blood and treasure does not necessarily mean we should withdraw. Proponents of “staying the course” might argue that given the harm we’ve inflicted on the Iraqi people, we have an obligation to remain and stabilize the country. (I don't agree with this; my personal opinion is that our continued presence will never help the Iraqis resolve their political problems and likely exacerbates them. We do have a moral obligation to stabilize Iraq, but sadly fulfilling that obligation is probably possible.)
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Date: 2007-09-23 09:13 pm (UTC)Part of the reason is that it is depressing. Every time I think about the amount of people we have killed in Iraq, the amount of money we have borrowed and spent, how difficult it will be to repay all that money, I get feelings of fury and hopelessness.
Even if began a withdrawal of all troops tomorrow, it would not un-kill those people or un-spend that money.
Indeed, that the war has been a humongous waste of blood and treasure does not necessarily mean we should withdraw. Proponents of “staying the course” might argue that given the harm we’ve inflicted on the Iraqi people, we have an obligation to remain and stabilize the country. (I don't agree with this; my personal opinion is that our continued presence will never help the Iraqis resolve their political problems and likely exacerbates them. We do have a moral obligation to stabilize Iraq, but sadly fulfilling that obligation is probably possible.)